ORPHIC FRAGMENT 232
OTTO KERN
Embedded Files
HellenicGods.org
HOME GLOSSARY RESOURCE ART LOGOS CONTACT
For links to many more fragments: The Orphic Fragments of Otto Kern.
SUMMARY: This fragment states that men will make great offerings to Dionysus, seeking deliverance, for he has great power and is willing to free us from suffering and the wicked legacy we inherited from our ancestors.
232. (208) σχόλιον Ὀλυμπιοδώρου επὶ Φαίδωνος Πλάτωνος Β ιά p. 87, 13 Norv.:
ὅτι ὁ Διόνυσος λύσεώς ἐστιν αἴτιος· διὸ καὶ Λυσεὺς ὁ θεός, καὶ ὁ Ὀρφεύς φησιν·
ἄνθρωποι δὲ τεληέσσας ἑϰατόμβας
πέμψουσιν πάσηισι ἐν ὥραις ἀμφιέτηισιν
ὄργια τ’ ἐκτελέσουσι λύσιν προγόνων ἀθεμίστων
μαιόμενοι· σὺ δὲ τοῖσιν ἔχων κράτος, οὕς κ’ ἐθέληισθα,
λύσεις ἔϰ τε πόνων χαλεπῶν ϰαὶ ἀπείρονος οἴστρου.
“For Diónysos is the cause of deliverance; because not only is this God the Liberator (Λυσεὺς), but also, Orphéfs (Ὀρφεύς) says:
‘Men will conduct perfect hecatombs
in all the seasons of the year,
and will complete mystic orgies, seeking deliverance from the lawless acts of their ancestors.
And you are strong for those you keep, and are willing,
you will deliver them from grievous labors and boundless agony.’ ”
(trans. by the author)
Herm. 509 n. 23; Lobeck I 584; Rohde Psyche II6 128 n. 5; Anrich Das antike Mysterienwesen in seinem Einflusse auf das Christentum 119 n. 3; Tannery Rev. philol. XXIII 1899, 126. XXV 1901, 314; S. Reinach Rev. philol. XXIII 1899, 239 = Cultes, mythes et réligions I 312; Kern Orpheus 46; Latte Arch. Religionsw. XX 1921, 282.
ὕμνος Ὀρφέως 52.2 Τριετηρικοῦ·
ταυρόκερως, Ληναῖε, πυροσπόρε (πυρίσπορε), Νύσιε, Λυσεῦ.
“bull-horned, oh God of the wine-press (Ληναῖος), born of fire, Nysian (the mountains sacred to Diónysos), Deliverer (Λύσιος)”
It is necessary to deliberate (the meaning of the epithet) Διόνυσος Λύσιος, whom the ancients did not properly interpret as the liberator of the prisoners (Ἡρακλείδης ὁ Ποντικός fr. 101 p. 91 Voss) or:
διὰ τὸ λυτρώσασθαι Θηβαίους παρὰ Ναξίων ἄμπελον (Ἀριστοφάνης Θηβαίους)
“Through having ransomed the Theban grapevine from the Naxions.”
Wentzel Ἐπικλήσεις VII 42. Vs. 3:
λύσις προγόνων ἀθεμίστων
“the deliverance of the unlawful ancestors”
To inquire into the wickedness of the human race, for which the Titans are the founders, it is necessary to refer back to fragments 209 and 220.
In the same way, also, it is necessary to understand the fragment of Pindar in Μένων Πλάτωνος 81 b (133 Schr.):
παλαιὸν πένθος
“the ancient disaster,”
And also (the phrase) from Περὶ τῶν Αἰγυπτίων μυστηρίων Ιαμβλίχου Χαλκιδέως rec. Parthey 3, 10 p. 121, 11:
λύσεις παλαιῶν μηνιμάτων
“redemptions from ancient guilt”
For προγόνων ἀθεμίστων “unlawful ancestors,” compare ὕμνος Ὀρφέως 37.2 Τιτάνων·
ἡμετέρων πατέρων πρόγονοι
“progenitors of our fathers.”
The story of the birth of the Gods: Orphic Theogony.
We know the various qualities and characteristics of the Gods based on metaphorical stories: Mythology.
Dictionary of terms related to ancient Greek mythology: Glossary of Hellenic Mythology.
Introduction to the Thæí (the Gods): The Nature of the Gods.
How do we know there are Gods? Experiencing Gods.
This logo is the principal symbol of this website. It is called the CESS logo, i.e. the Children of the Earth and the Starry Sky. The Pætilía (Petelia, Πετηλία) and other golden tablets having this phrase are the inspiration for the symbol. The image represents this idea: Earth (divisible substance) and the Sky (continuous substance) are the two kozmogonic substances. The twelve stars represent the Natural Laws, the dominions of the Olympian Gods. In front of these symbols is the seven-stringed kithára (cithara, κιθάρα), the the lyre of Apóllôn (Apollo, Ἀπόλλων). It (here) represents the bond between Gods and mortals and is representative that we are the children of Orphéfs (Orpheus, Ὀρφεύς).
PLEASE NOTE: Throughout the pages of this website, you will find fascinating stories about our Gods. These narratives are known as mythology, the traditional stories of the Gods and Heroes. While these tales are great mystical vehicles containing transcendent truth, they are symbolic and should not be taken literally. A literal reading will frequently yield an erroneous result. The meaning of the myths is concealed in code. To understand them requires a key. For instance, when a God kills someone, this usually means a transformation of the soul to a higher level. Similarly, sexual union with a God is a transformation.
We know the various qualities and characteristics of the Gods based on metaphorical stories: Mythology.
Dictionary of terms related to ancient Greek mythology: Glossary of Hellenic Mythology.
SPELLING: HellenicGods.org uses the Reuchlinian method of pronouncing ancient Greek, the system preferred by scholars from Greece itself. An approach was developed to enable the student to easily approximate the Greek words. Consequently, the way we spell words is unique, as this method of transliteration is exclusive to this website. For more information, visit these three pages:
Pronunciation of Ancient Greek
Transliteration of Ancient Greek
Pronouncing the Names of the Gods in Hellenismos
PHOTO COPYRIGHT INFORMATION: The many pages of this website incorporate images, some created by the author, but many obtained from outside sources. To find out more information about these images and why this website can use them, visit this link: Photo Copyright Information
DISCLAIMER: The inclusion of images, quotations, and links from outside sources does not in any way imply agreement (or disagreement), approval (or disapproval) with the views of HellenicGods.org by the external sources from which they were obtained.
Further, the inclusion of images, quotations, and links from outside sources does not in any way imply agreement (or disagreement), approval (or disapproval) by HellenicGods.org of the contents or views of any external sources from which they were obtained.
For more information: Inquire.hellenicgods@gmail.com
For answers to many questions: Hellenismos FAQ
© 2010 by HellenicGods.org. All Rights Reserved.
Page updated
Report abuse